Knitted fabric and method



W. L. SMITH, JR

May 19, 1942.

[NIKE/V701?! Will/mil. SW/15.71%, .7 7

A'rry Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED, STATES PATENT oF ics KNITTED FABRIC AND METHOD William L. Smith, Jr., Pawtucket, R. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a

corporation of Massachusetts 11 Claims.

This case concerns an elastic edge construction for knitted articles such as hosiery. The edge is resistant to ravelling, is substantial in appearance and relatively free from curling or rolling.

In the figures of drawing:

Fig. 1 is a conventional representation of a section of fabric, greatly enlarged, showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a secondform of the same; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a typical half hose to which the invention might be applied;

The edge construction herein described and claimed has elastic yarns incorporated in a special way for the purpose of rendering the fabric such as the top of a stocking or half hose free from ravelling and imparting to the same other desirable characteristics. Among features present is that of a substantial edge being more or less flat at the top section and not being tight or too strongly tending to contract, thereby rendering the same especially adapted for use in fabrics or stockings of larger diameter, one such example being that of ladies full length hosiery, either circular knit or full fashioned.

Referring to Fig. 1 the initial course is knitted from an elastic yarn I which is drawn in the hooks of every other needle, that is, alternate needles. That course is designated at A, and immediately following, a second course B is knitted from the same elastic yarn and on the same needles. The said fabric is to be made on. a circular type machine such as a Banner hosiery machine and preferably on such a machine hav ing two feeding stations as illustrated in St. Pierre Patent #2,131,720. The said elastic yarn I would preferably be fed at the so-called auxiliary side of the machine, special yarn feeding means and needle selecting means being present for accomplishing the purpose. The yarn is fed under a predetermined tension, preferably a relatively light tension.

At the opposite or so-called main side of the machine several yarn feeding levers will normally be present and may be used to feed different nonelastic yarns such as are commonly employed in the knitting of hosiery, and in addition, a second elastic yarn herein designated by numeral 2. That elastic yarn is to be introduced at the same revolution of the machine upon which course B is knitted. Course A was knitted at the auxiliary side, and at that time, no yarn feeds at the main side. As soon as course A is completed, however, this yarn 2 is thrown in to feed at the main side being knitted on all needles at that side.

The result is that yarn l is drawn on alternate needles in course B while yarn 2 is drawn not only on alternate needles but on intermediate needles as well.

On the next revolution of the machine elastic 'yarn continues to feed to the same needles at the auxiliary side knitting course C, while elastic yarn 2 is withdrawn and a non-elastic yarn 3 substituted in its stead, that yarn being knitted as a course designated by the letter D and knitting on' all needles. The two courses C and D are thereafter repeated in similar courses E and F and that knitting is preferably continued throughout the remainder of the fabric, such fabric being described and claimed in said United States Patent #2,13l,720. It is to be understood that the novel edge construction may be followed by other types of elastic fabric, or the knitting mentioned above, this edge will serve very well to prevent ravelling and will impart to the edge a certain degree of elasticity and a more substantial appearance than would normally result in a single edge type of welt, that being something very desirable for hosiery of that description.

Referring to Fig. 2, a slightly different form of the invention is shown wherein elastic yarn l' is'first knitted at a course A and thereafter on a second course B, but on every fourth needle rather than on every second. Thereafter a second elastic yarn 2' is knitted on every other needle at the main side of the machine, it being observed, however, that this second elastic yarn is not knitted on the same needles as knitted yarn I. Yarn l' knitted on needles which correspond to wales 4, 8, I2, etc., while yarn 2' knits at wales 5, I, 9, ll, etc., skipping wales 4, 6, 8, l0, 12, etc. Suitable needle selection is to be available at the auxiliary side and also at the main side of the machine to accomplish this. After knitting course B in which both yarns I and 2 appear, although knitted on different needles,

courses 0 and D are knitted just as the courses Referring to Fig. 3 a half hose is shown having a leg 13, foot I4 and a top l5 wherein the edge I6 is formed according to the method of knitting the construction herein described. The elastic yarns .2 and 2' may be fed under similar tension to the yarns I and I. Slightly more tension on these yarns at the beginning of the fabric will draw the same in to a certain extent and in this way tendency to curl or roll is diminished. In the specification and claims spaced wales are referred to and by that term wales are designated which are spaced by at least one intervening wale. In general, the construction is resistant to curling or rolling and additional tension applied at the start of knitting is mainly for the purpose of improving the appearance and overcoming any tendency of the edge to flare outwardly. By control of these elastic yarns or either of them, appearance at the edge of a stocking top or welt may be controlled. Other modifications may be apparent and will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A selvage for aknitted fabric having elastic courses including a course in which elastic yarn has been incorporated at alternate wales, a following course of the same elastic yarn knitted at the same alternate wales and in combination therewith, a second elastic yarn knitted at all wales.

2. A selvage for a knitted fabric having elastic yarns knitted in a plurality of courses, one of said yarns being knitted at every fourth wale in an initial course and in corresponding. fourth wales at a following course, a second said elastic yarn being knitted at alternate wales, but not including the first mentioned fourth wales, in that course. r

3. In a stocking top a selvage having-elastic courses including a course in which elastic yarn has been knitted at' alternate wales, a following course. of the same elastic yarn knitted at the same alternate wales and in combination therewith, a second elastic yarn knittedat all wales.

4. In a stocking top a selvage having elastic yarns knitted in a plurality of courses, one of said yarns being knitted at every fourth wale in an initial course and in corresponding fourth wales at a following course, a second said elastic yarn being knitted at alternate wales, but not including the first mentioned fourth wales, in that course.

5. A method of knitting a selvageincluding the steps of drawing knitted stitches from elastic T yarns in a plurality of courses, and wherein one of said elastic yarns is drawn into consecutive stitches in spaced wales and the other of said elastic yarns is drawn into stitches in all wales in at least one'of the courses.

6. A method of knitting a selvage including the steps of drawing knitted stitches from elastic yarns, drawing one of said yarns into stitches at spaced wales in a plurality of courses and the other of said yarns into spaced 'wales but wales spaced throughout a lesser distance, but skipping the first mentioned wales, in at least one of the courses in said selvage.

7. A selvage for a knitted fabric including in combination, a course of inelastic yarn with which are interknitted courses of elastic yarn in a manner to'prevent ravelling, one such yarn being knitted at wales spaced apart to leave at least one intermediate wale in which the said elastic yarn is not knitted, and a second elastic yarn knitted in at least one of the wales intermediate those in which the first elastic yarn is knitted.

8. A selvage for a knitted fabric including in combination, a course of inelastic yarn with which are interknitted courses of elastic yarn in a manner to prevent ravelling, one such yarn being incorporated to be held at wales spaced apart to leave at least one intermediate wale in which the said elastic yarn is not incorporated, and a second elastic yarn incorporated to be held in: at least one of the wales intermediate those in which the first el'asticl yarn is held.

9. A selvage for a knitted fabric including in combination, a course of, inelastic yarn with which are interknitted courses of elastic yarn in a manner to prevent ravelling, one of said elastic yarns being knitted to be held at Wales spaced apart by at least one intervening wale and in at least two consecutive courses, another elastic yarn knitted to be held at one only of said courses and at some of the wales intermediate those spaced wales in which the first mentioned elastic yarn is held.

10. In a stocking topa selvage including in combination, a course of inelastic yarn with which are'interkn itted courses of elastic yarn in a manner to prevent ravelling, one such yarn being knitted at wales spaced apart to leave at least one intermediate wale in which the said elastic yarn is not knitted, and a second elastic yarn knitted in at least one of the wales intermediate those in which the first elastic. yarn is knitted.

11. In a stocking top a selvage including in combination, a course of inelastic yarn with which are interknitted courses of elastic yarn in' a manner toprevent ravelling, one such yarn being incorporated to be held'at wales spaced apart to leave at least one intermediate wale in which the said elastic yarn is not incorporated,

and a second elastic yarn incorporated to be held in at least one of the wales intermediate those in which the first elasticyarn is held.

WILLIAM L. SMITH, JR. 

